Just weeks after being let go by the Miami Dolphins, Mike McDaniel has officially landed a new role as the offensive coordinator for the Los Angeles Chargers. Despite his dismissal in Miami, McDaniel was sought after and already has a plan for his new team’s quarterback, with major changes in mind. He joins a high-profile staff in Los Angeles, where he expressed that he is “fired up” to begin working alongside head coach Jim Harbaugh and star quarterback Justin Herbert.

“I think not relying too heavily on Justin’s ability to do above and beyond I think is critical,” ESPN reporter Kris Rhim shared a quote from McDaniel on X. “That’ll be one of the first things that we’ll try to do is take a little off his plate.” 

A key part of McDaniel’s new mission is to change how the team utilizes its franchise quarterback. McDaniel’s main goal with the Chargers will be to create an offense that will focus more on smart design rather than asking Herbert to carry the entire team on every play. Last season, the offense often stalled in the “red zone” because it relied too much on Herbert making spectacular plays to save difficult situations. So, as per the OC, that will need to change.

Quoting on his plan, McDaniel said to the press, “We were both geeked for the future and the possibilities.” As per Kris Rhim, his post additionally stated, “McDaniel said Herbert hasn’t ‘neared the ceiling ‘ of what he’s capable of.”

McDaniel’s primary strength is his ability to diagnose a player’s specific profile and engineer a tailored training plan for peak performance. Before diving into the coach’s strategy for the quarterback, let’s review Herbert’s career stats to date: 3,727 passing yards, 26 touchdowns, and 13 interceptions.

For Justin Herbert, having the OC means that McDaniels will design a “safety net” through schemes that prioritize high-percentage completions. By favoring strategic play-calling over high-degree-of-difficulty throws, McDaniel establishes a reliable rhythm that keeps the offense ahead of the chains. This system is designed to create easier, high-percentage targets.

Herbert won’t have to carry the entire burden of the game on his own. McDaniel’s system provides simple, high-percentage opportunities that take the pressure off and set the quarterback up for consistent success. Something similar to the way he helped Tua Tagovailoa succeed in Miami.

Mike McDaniel, irrespective of the shift to the Chargers, has enjoyed his time in Miami

McDaniel officially joins the Chargers offense after spending the last four seasons as the head coach of the Miami Dolphins, where he led his team to two playoff appearances and finished with a winning record. He is highly respected throughout the league for his creative play-calling and his knack for helping quarterbacks play at their absolute best. 

McDaniel’s success in Miami was record-breaking. In 2023, his offense led the entire NFL in total yards and passing, while also ranking second in scoring. That season, the Dolphins became one of the few teams in football history to have a 4,000-yard passer, two 1,000-yard receivers, and a 1,000-yard rusher all at the same time. 

Reflecting on his career during an interview with Pat McAfee, McDaniel shared that while he values his time in Miami, as he said, “I wouldn’t trade my experience in Miami for anything and I think I’m just getting started as a coach in the NFL..I’m excited to be here with the Chargers and I think it’s an unbelievable opportunity.”

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 The move comes after head coach Jim Harbaugh decided it was time for a change, moving on from previous coordinator Greg Roman in early 2026. Harbaugh wanted a “fresh voice” to modernize the team’s strategy. 

McDaniel fits this role perfectly; he is known for using fast-paced play and clever player movements to keep defenses off balance. The timing of this hire is perfect for the Chargers’ future. The team enters the offseason with $88 million in spending money, the third-highest in the league, and a first-round draft pick. 

By bringing McDaniel on board now, the Chargers are giving him a major say in which players the team should sign or draft. Ensuring a much better performance in the next season.